[Food] Safeway's Sweet AirMiles Deals:May 18-24 Toothpaste If You Have Coupons

[Operabob]

This thread is democratic in that all are welcome to post here and provide the calculations and permutations they find works best for them. In this way we can all help each other find the best deals.

Just a few thoughts:

1. Safeway had (and I stress had) a reputation for being over-priced. That is in the past and you'll often find Safeway more than competitive especially when you include the average value of AirMiles offered on heavily discounted manufacturers weekly specials. In fact sometimes it is possible to get more in value in AirMiles than it cost to buy the product.

2. The average value of an AirMiles to the consumer is approximately $0.11. Using an average value helps one determine a comparative value to the same product in other stores. The most popular method of valuing AirMiles I find is to take a product and determine how much it cost to buy an AirMile with it.

This could lead to two products: A costing $0.20 and Airmile and B costing $2.00 an Airmile.

To my mind valuing AMs this way just encourages people to buy as much a product A rather than B. People could end up buying for the sake of getting AirMiles rather than products they use at good prices or can donate to charity cost effectively. But how do you know if A is a good deal.


[CENTER]

May 11 - 17

In the following first number is sale price. Second number is effective value based on $0.105/AM). If there is a multiple offer, ie, B3G15 & B6G45 a third number corresponds to the value of the extra offer.


With effective valuing you can compare the relative prices of a product after accounting for the AirMiles against the same product in another store. For example,


If Coca-Cola is $2.00 with 10 Airmiles it has an effective value of $0.90 [$2 - (10 x $0.11)]. If another store is selling the same product for $1 you know the effect of the AirMiles beats that price.


Print off a copy of the following to take comparison shopping.



SS = Safeway Select
Saf = Safeway
Sig =Signature
Sch = Schneider's
GMS = Gourmet Meat Shop
OO = O Organics
ER = Eating Right
ML = Maple Leaf
BC = Betty Crocker or Bakery Counter
NPG = No Price Given

OK, so it looks like Safeway is continuing to shrink the number of AirMiles offered on many products (see Irish Spring below).

You might find some value in Lysol products if you have BOGO coupons.

The only other thing I see that may have value is the Red Rose tea. Fairway has it on for $4.99 this week which is the same price as Safeway which has bonus AMs. However, if you can get Red Rose elsewhere for less than $4.11 do not buy it at Safeway.


May 18 - 24

P. 1

B$100G100 May 18 - 21 Only

Kellogg's Cereal B5G100 6.99/4.89

Bistro Cake B1G15 9.99/8.41

Smart One Entrees B4G20 2.50/1.97

Duracell Batteries BOGO G50 -5.25

Artisan Garlic Bread B2G15 2.50/1.71

Saf. Hotdog/Hamburger Buns B2G15 2/1.21

Butcher's Cut Beef Patties B2G40 27.60/25.50

Tostitos B3G20 3/2.30

Lucerne Ice Cream B2G25 3.99/2.68

Large Raw Prawns B2G20 6.99/5.94

P. 2

SS Bacon B2G15 4.99/4.20

Johnsonville Sausage B3G25 3.99/3.11

Basa fillets B2G20 7.77/6.72

P. 3

Butcher's Cut Beef Patties B2G20 15.80/14.75

GMS Srtuffed Chicken Breasts B3G20 3.33/2.63

PP. 4 - 5

Quaker Crispy Minis B4G15 1.50/1.11

Maxwell Coffee B2G30 8.99/7.41

Purex TP B2G35 7.99/6.32

Smucker's Jam B3G20 3.99/3.29

Sponge Towels (6) B2G35 9.99/8.32

Vector Bars B4G25 3/2.40

Goodhost Ice Tea B3G30 4.99/3.94

Van Houtte Coffee B2G20 8.99/7.94

Starbuck's coffee B2G10 9.99/9.46

Lactantia Milk B2G10 3/2.47

Hellman's Mayo B2G20 3.99/2.94

Athenos Feta B2G20 4.59/3.54

Castello Blue Cheese B2G25 4/2.69

GMS Chicken Wings B2G30 12.99/11.41

RESER's Burritos B2G20 4.99/3.94

Summer Fresh Salad Bowls B2G20 6.99/5.94

Nana's Samosas B6G30 2.79/2.26

GMS Mini Burgers B2G10 7.99/7.46

Nature's Blend Breads B2G10 3/2.47

BC Black Forest Cake B1G15 11.49/9.91

Mia Pizza Bella B2G50 5.99/3.36

Dare Candy B3G25 3.49/2.61

Dad;'s Cookies B4G50 4/2.62

O Organic Bread B2G10 3.89/3.36

Uncle Ben's Long Grain Rice B1G20 9.99/7.89

BC Apple Pie B1G10 6.49/5.44

Coat to Coast Italian Bread B2G15 2.89/2.01

Zola Acai B2G15 5.49/4.61

ER Burgers B2G15 9.99/9.11

ER Salmon Burgers B2G10 7.99/7.46 (Last Time was B2G25)

Harvest Weiners B2G10 7.79/7.26

HL Flame Savours B1G10 12.99/11.94

Schneider Jumbos B2G25 5/3.69

Sachs Peanuts B3G15 3.49/2.96

Concord Event B3G20 & B6G50:

Melitta Coffee 11.99/11.29/11.11

Berlio Oil 30% OFF NPG -0.70/0.88

Tetley Tins 3/2.30/2.12

Tetley Bags (144 & 80) 5.99/5.29/5.11

Praeventia 4/3.30/3.12

L'Oreal Event (Not Mix and Match):

Preference B2G20 9.99/8.94

Skin Care 30% OFF NPG B2G20 -1.05

Everpure B2G20 7.99/6.94

Hair Care B3G30 3.99/2.94

Expert Skin Care 20% OFF NPG B2G20 -1.05

Kid's Shampoo B3G15 2.99/2.46

Summer Travel Event (Not Mix and Match):

Aveeno/Neutrogena B2G20 20% OFF NPG -1.05

Bandaid/Polysporin B2G15 20% OFF NPG -0.88

Listerine B2G10 4.99/4.46

Tylenol/Motrin B2G20 7.99/6.94

Reactine B2G50 24.99/22.37

Tylenol Children B2G15 5.99/5.11

PP. 6-7

Gillette Blades B2G45 30% OFF NPG -2.36

Crest Whitestrips B1G80 20% OFF NPG -8.40

Colgate Toothpaste B5G50 2/0.95

Head and Shoulders B3G20 5.99/5.29

Old Spice Anti-P B3G30 2.99/1.94

Ombrelle B2G25 25% OFF NPG -1.31

Tampax B2G40 5.99/3.89

Nexxus B3G75 NPG -2.63

BD Pen Needles B1G20 28.88/26.78

Nicorette/Nicoderm B2G50 20% OFF NPG -2.63

Aerius B2G50 24.99/22.36

Old Spice BW/Olay Soap B2G30 3.99/2,41 (OK with coupons)

Coppertone B2G40 8.99/6.89

Blistex B2G10 20% OFF NPG - 0.53

P. 8

Dinosaur Fingeroo Cake B1G15 8.99/7.41
Email.direct:

To Follow


Also, if you do use your AMs for flights instead of products in all likelihood you can set the effective prices lower. However, it is always a good thing to cross reference with an Airlines website prices to make sure. Don't forget you pay the taxes extra.

Finally, to all of you who have thanked me for this thread, thank you back as well.

[Operabob]

http://f.chtah.com/i/0/2068055018/em...ct_25_2009.pdf

50 AMs on the B2G50 cheese has an average value of $7 or $3.50 each.

If each cheese is $8.99 then the effective value is $8.99 - $3.50 = $5.49

If the same size and type of cheese is $6.49 elsewhere then the AirMiles on average gives you a $1 advantage at Safeway: $6.49 vs. $5.49 effectively.

50AMs on the bread = $7 or $1.40/loaf

20AMs on the carrots = $2.80 0r $1.40/bag

On both of those just subtract $1.40 from the price/item to find if you have a price advantage elsewhere.

[SmartBoy]

Your efforts are much appreciated, as well as your explanation. However, the mother of all Safeway Air Miles threads is here, and perhaps rather than starting another one, you should merge your information with that one?

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/s...d.php?t=666383

[jory29]

I like the way Operabob has explained it, and broken it down for people. I've always thought of it in the same terms, as do others who are familiar with air miles, but I suspect there are RFD'ers who may not have looked at the breakdown in terms of dollar value before. Good post, very explanatory. The mods might merge it with the other Safeway thread, but maybe for a while it can be on it's own first.

[Operabob]

The following question was posed to me on another site:

For redeeming miles what is the best deal-flights or gift cards? I get confused by trying to figure it out. Thanks

I replied:

Flights are kinda hard to calculate so I haven't really looked at them that hard. Some people have indicated they are one of the better deals. However, we could look at it as a good exercise as I did with magazines.

With the magazines I took the lowest price available from those little cards that fall out. Often there'll be 3 cards with 1 having a lower price than the other 2. I think this is a marketing technique in the hopes people will buy in case the lower price was a mistake.

I'm seeing the same thing from Princess Cruises. On Monday I'll get a mail out listing cruises for $1,499. The very next day I'll get another in the mail for exactly the same cruise at $899.

So here's what we need to do:

1. I believe AirMiles includes taxes in the flight but I can't remember for sure.

2. Everyone pick a flight, for example for me Victoria to Toronto and determine how many AirMiles neccessary.

3. Go on WestJet and Air Canada's website to determine the lowest priced flight including taxes during the same period.

4. Divide the known cost by the number of AMs to purchase the same. Then you'll know how much each AM is worth and whether it's a better deal than the cards.

BTW: Question to you all.

After Shell Gas Coupons what is the next worst Gift Card/Coupon deal?

Then followed up with an actual calculation:

OK, I just did a quick look using:

1. Victoria to Toronto one-way
2. Lowest priced seat
3. Did not add any extras

I also picked an arbitrary date of August 1 as it is peak season with no specials (Note: for around two weeks before during peak season there's a 25% off special).

Air Miles needed 3,850 (I assumed this is one-way. If it's 2-way double the values below).

Prices varied throughout the day and I doubt there'd be any room on the highest priced trips.

Including taxes:

Lowest: $290.50

Highest: $918.40

Before taxes most common was $269 - $310. I can add around $60 taxes on those.

$290.50/3850 = $0.075/AM

$918.40/3850 = $0.24/AM

Using the $310 + $60 = $370/3850 = $0.10/AM

Now, if the 3,850 is two-way double the values but in general if my calculations are correct and it's one-way gift cards look to be a better deal (disregarding specials) unless you can get on the highest priced flights. Then again, being your basic Scotsman the cheapest flight gets you there just as well as the expensive one.

Now, I might have missed something above so let me know if I have.

Interesting though that if you need to buy some miles from AirMiles to have enough for a trip they sell them to you for $0.30 each.

I feel there is a fair amount of error when dealing with this question as a lot depends on where you live, where your going and time of year. Had I picked July 31 instead there's a 25% AirMiles bonus on which would drive the value up to $0.125/AM on the median flights.

Also, I might have made an error in logic or math above. Feel free to alert me to this so necessary adjustments can be made.

Generally, though, and if no errors it would seem gift cards are a better use of AMs than flying in this particular situation.

[Operabob]

Jory,

Thanks for the feedback.

I would prefer the Mods don't merge it as there appeared to be some resistance to me by the person who started the other thread.

The person is justifiably proud of the excellent work he/she has been doing but I have concerns that this methodology might be viewed as competition and an unhealthy situation on that thread might develop.

I do not want to interfere or compete with the other person or be the cause of any friction.

I hope we can all learn from each other.

[Fort McMurray]

Gotta love the babies that exist on this forum (don't touch "my" topic or I am gonna smack you)

When I use Airmiles for flights, I use them for a lot of short leg flights that I take. So it is 700 Airmiles to fly from Fort McMurray to Victoria, and it costs $618 to take the flight. Take the $25 admin fee off (taxes are not included as well, but if you are taking the flight anyways it is a moot point), then my Airmiles are worth $0.85 each.

If you weren't going to take the flight, reducing the value of the taxes makes it worth $0.70 an Airmile.

[Operabob]

Fort,

Excellent information and shows exactly why it's difficult to put a value on an AM for flights.

Seems the best is to evaluate each flight individually.

[wilbrod]

Your efforts are much appreciated, as well as your explanation. However, the mother of all Safeway Air Miles threads is here, and perhaps rather than starting another one, you should merge your information with that one?

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/s...d.php?t=666383

I don't want to flame you here OB but the Safeway thread is doing a pretty good job already at posting the weekly deals for AM. I don't think we need to start a new thread weekly posted in the Hot Deal section unless there is a Hot deal to post like when we get more in AM value than the food/product value itself.

+1 for the information you posted but once again wouldn't want to see this posted over and over weekly.

+1 for merging this with other safeway thread.

Oh and safeway is still overpriced for a lot of items. Good promotions though.

[hungryfordeals]

Bob, there's nothing wrong with doing this thread. Both of you have contributed in different ways. That being said, like you say, Shell is the worst gift card in terms of value...but in reality, aren't most giftcards still better than most merchandise items? I don't travel at this time, so giftcards are what I usually use my miles for, such as HBC. What's your opinion on that?

[Operabob]

wil,

Thanks for the post and definitely do not see it as a flame. Your thoughts are very much appreciated.

If the Mods do want to merge it fine, however, the methodologies are different with what I do (or anyone else using the same method) allowing for cost comparisons.

The other methodology shows which item accumulates AMs the fastest without really determining cost effectiveness.

While I haven't read the whole thread of what I did read I didn't see much discussion or valuing but I could be wrong.

I agree with you 100% on Safeway's prices but if you're using average valuing you can really work this to your advantage, for example, if you're buying some Kellogg's cereals this week and have the $2 coupons and if they're good on the item (can't confirm but am told they're good) then once again you'll end up with more in value in AirMiles than it costs to buy the product.

You're being paid to shop.

Generally, for myself (I'm sure others are doing similar) when it comes to Safeway I concentrate on:

1. Products I actually use and can buy in bulk
2. Have large amounts of bonus AMs
3. Are on Sale
4. Tons of coupons
5. The bonus AMs give me an edge over buying the same product elsewhere. (On items with 50AM bonuses I often find 35AMs are an advantage with Safeway's higher pricing).

Charitable tax receipt donations are also a consideration.

However, if the community feels this info is better placed on the other forum I'll happily do so as long as it doesn't create issues.

[Operabob]

hungry,

Shell is the worst gift card in terms of value...but in reality, aren't most giftcards still better than most merchandise items? I don't travel at this time, so giftcards are what I usually use my miles for, such as HBC. What's your opinion on that?

Merchandise is hard to value at AirMiles. That's why I used certificates/gift cards/subscriptions to calculate an average of $0.14.

A few years ago I took a few items from the site and found the exact same products at Zellers, Wal-Mart and Canada Tire. I took the lowest price and divided by the number of AMs needed to get the same item on site. Worked out to around $0.125/AM as I recall. However, my study was by no means exhaustive and so there is a lot of room for error.

I tend to buy gift cards too.

I have a friend who gives me heck all the time over coupons. On the August long weekend we're going with them to a festival. He'll pay more than $500 for the weekend.

We will use gift cards for hotel, meals, gas. I'll buy him a beer at our hotel. He'll pay cash to buy me one back. I'll be smiling!

what I usually use my miles for, such as HBC. What's your opinion on that?

I'm sure it's pretty common knowledge by now but if you do the math you lose 49% of purchasing power converting Zeller points to AMs. Far better to use Zeller's points to purchase HBC/Z gift cards or as you do buy HBC/Z cards with unconverted AMs.

[MC25]

IBTL

This is a repost, there is already a huge mother thread on this.

2 things: There doesnt need to be 2 threads, it would get to hard to follow along. I dont want to have to read a discussion everytime I look for airmiles.
Also, your layout is hard to follow. Take the other thread, listed at the top states clearly the best current AM deal at safeway, and how much it works out to being when dividing cost by accumulated airmiles. Yours I scan through and have no idea what the heck is going on.

Cheers

[Operabob]

MC,

Thanks for the feedback.

I'll try to simplify ABAP.

1. Take the average value of an AM = $0.14

2. Multiply that by the number of AMs available per item

3. Subtract that from the price

4. You now have an effective price to compare against the same item at other stores and can determine which is the better offer.


The other method only tells you how much an AirMile costs when you buy a particular item not whether buying that item is a good choice.

For example, the Pampers above. Pampers cost a lot per AirMile: $14.99/40AMs = $0.375/AM

Should one avoid buying this product because it costs a lot to buy each AirMile? $0.375 doesn't give much information. If another item is $0.10/AM is it a better consumer choice than $0.375?

What the information does say is that you'll accumulate AirMiles faster buying the $0.10 than the $0.375 one.

Clearly on a cash basis the Wal-Mart above looks better too. If you use Pampers should you pass on Safeway because of the high $0.375?

When you assign a real value to an AirMile instead of what it costs with individual items to buy one then you get usable information.

So, I'm not just looking at the product itself but rather if you buy the product do the AirMiles actually create an advantage elsewhere? The other method does not tell you this. In the example above with Safeway @ $14.99 and Wal-Mart at $10.99 (27% cheaper) even if you use the AirMiles to buy the worst gift card/certificate available (Shell Gas) you end up with a 5% advantage for yourself [1 - (10.42/10.99] buying at Safeway in the example.

I'm happy to put this info on the other thread as long as it doesn't create issues as my first appearance seemed to.

[Operabob]

MC,

Sorry meant to add (and this is not a criticism of the other thread).

Take the other thread, listed at the top states clearly the best current AM deal at safeway, and how much it works out to being when dividing cost by accumulated airmiles.

Agreed.

What it doesn't tell you is if it's a better deal than at another store.

The valuing method will.